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Epcot Italy Pizzeria Concept Art Released

The newest piece of information in the Epcot Pizzeria puzzle has been released: concept art!

Image copyright Disney

Based on this image, we now have a better idea of what to expect from the newest restaurant in Walt Disney World, scheduled to open this Fall just in time for the 2010 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival!

It looks like Italy will have a whole new “neighborhood” back behind the current Tutto Italia, and that the pizzeria building will sit perpendicular to its outdoor dining area. The restaurant will seat 300.

More Info
Click here for Italy Pizzeria construction pics

Click here for the Naples Menu, which represents a sister restaurant to the Epcot Italy Pizzeria. We think the menus will be somewhat similar.

Anniversary and Honeymoon Treats in Disney World

By AJ 36 Comments

This post is part of the DisMarks Disney Blog Carnival! If you’re a Disney fan, be sure to head over and check out all of the other fantastic Disney blogs in the carnival!

You’ve heard all about the Disney Birthday Treats that some restaurants share with their guests in celebration. Today we want to share with you a few fun treats that have been received by Disney honeymooners, which are often the same congratulatory treats given to those celebrating their Anniversaries, as well.

California Grill Honeymoon Presentation

As many of you know, my husband and I split our honeymoon between Disney World and Hawai’i last Fall, and there are several things to consider when planning a “DisneyMoon!” You can plan an official extravaganza with Disney Honeymoons, or you can keep the planning more personal. We did the latter, but were still able to celebrate “Disney-style” through the generosity of a few of our favorite Disney restaurants.

Restaurant Tips for Those Celebrating Honeymoons or Anniversaries
If you’re planning to commemorate your marriage in Walt Disney World, letting the restaurants in on your celebration is both free and easy, and it can really add to the festive atmosphere of your vacation. Consider these Dining Tips when you’re planning your Disney honeymoon or celebrating your anniversary: [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Weekly Round-Up: March 28, 2010

By AJ Leave a Comment

Our Goodies at the Wishes Dessert Party

Well, folks, “when it rains, it pours” regarding Disney food news this week! Here’s a recap from DFB before we launch into the Disney Food Post Weekly Round-Up.

The Wishes Dessert Party in the Magic Kingdom is now booking through May.
Additional news and rumors were reported about Epcot’s Italy pizzeria, and Cantina de San Angel.
Three restaurants in Epcot will have Extended Dining Hours through April 10th.
A Chef’s Counter option may be coming to Flying Fish Cafe
The April/May Tables in Wonderland Events have been announced.
In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Studio Catering Company has re-opened with a new menu

Plus, if you’re a Disney blogger, considering joining the DisMarks Disney Blog Carnival this week!

Now, on to the Round-Up! For those of you who are new to Disney Food Blog, each week we scour the web for some of the best Disney food writing around, then highlight it on our Sunday blog post. Enjoy!

Cupcakes Take The Cake showcased the Disney World Cupcakes from our “You Won’t Believe This!” snack series! (Nope, we’re not afraid to toot our own horn!)

Disney History Institute talks Disney and General Mills, with a focus on a Disney-fied August 1955 issue of The Modern Millwheel of General Mills.

Main Street Gazette has an awesome post about “Widowmaker Fries.” Don’t know what they are? Neither did we… check it out!

DF ’82 takes us on a tour of Colonel Hathi’s Pizza Outpost in Disneyland Paris Resort.

Gorillas Don’t Blog has an enchanting post and some keen photos of the current whereabouts of the Disneyland Carnation Truck from Carnation Corner.

Tasty Chomps goes to Epcot’s Sommerfest! Yum!

Disney Every Day reviews Whispering Canyon Cafe…and has a really big knife to boot!

Babes in Disneyland shares a pic of an adorable Disneyland Easter Treat!

WDW Radio‘s Lou Mongello takes us on a video tour in search of the best snack in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

SamLand’s Disney Adventures pays homage to his Flying Fish Cafe “Chef’s Counter” meal (I wish there were pictures, but the descriptions of the courses are mouth-watering). Scroll down to mid-post for the restaurant visit.

AllEarsNet blogger Mike Bachand brought pics back from the first Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Garden Town Breakfast.

Disney Parks Blog reports new evening hours at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill.

OC Register highlights a “Cheap Disneyland Kids’ Meal That’s Not Nasty.” You HAVE to love that title.

Cakewrecks shares a coolio “UP” cake…keep scrolling down and you’ll find it!

Chocolate Desserts You Might Have Missed…

By AJ 6 Comments

While many have sampled Coral Reef‘s famous “Chocolate Wave” and Le Cellier‘s deep, dark Whiskey Cake, we wanted to show you three chocolate desserts in Walt Disney World that might be a bit “under the radar”…

Portobello Restaurant, Downtown Disney
This dense, rich confection is called Chocolate Paradise, and is described on the menu as a rich chocolate layer cake with chocolate ganache & toffee crunch. Now, you all know me as a frosting-lover, and while this cake didn’t have much, the moistness of the cake itself nearly made up for it.

Also, rarely is a dessert “too rich” for me, but this one almost did me in. This is absolutely one of the most delicious chocolate cakes I’ve ever had — highly recommended the next time you’re in Downtown Disney. And, don’t worry — I’ll be highlighting my review of Portobello on the blog very soon!

Chocolate Paradise at Portobello, Downtown Disney

T-Rex, Downtown Disney
So…the Ice Age Indulgence is described as such: Layers of ice cream sandwiches, fudge sauce, whipped cream and Heath Bar Crunch, and it’s intriguing to say the least! It’s the exact dessert you’d have made as a kid if you were left alone in the house with a freezer full of ice cream sandwiches — admit it, you [Read more…]

Tables in Wonderland April and May Events Announced

By AJ 3 Comments

Here’s the most recent round of Tables in Wonderland events! Thanks to Cookie Wright for reminding me to check my email this month! 😉 (Click here for more information about Disney World’s Tables in Wonderland program.)

Tables in Wonderland Presents: The Wave… of American Flavors Discovery Dinner
*Thursday, April 15, 2010 6:30 p.m. Reception. 7 p.m.
*Dinner Location: The Wave… of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
(Please meet at restaurant’s main podium)
*Dress is Casual Evening Attire
*$92 per person, includes tax and gratuity
*Click image for menu description and specifics

The Wave… of American Flavors is proud to partner with Fresh from Florida spokesperson, David Fennesey, in presenting an array of great seafood from Florida’s coastal waters. David represents Central Seafood and will host the dinner with Chef Frank Brough and Area Manager Stephen Shepherd. David, who [Read more…]

Rumor: Flying Fish to Add Chef’s Counter Option

By AJ 5 Comments

Update: Flying Fish has instituted their Chef’s Counter, so book away!SamLand’s Disney Adventures

has included in a recent trip report post that Flying Fish Cafe might be using their open kitchen counter seats as a “Chef’s Counter” within the next couple of months!

Chef’s Counters at Disney’s signature restaurants are in the theme of the Victoria and Albert’s Chefs Table, though not quite as elaborate. You book the special experience and have the opportunity for the Executive Chef to build a custom menu for that evening around your likes and dislikes. It’s an extraordinary chance to [Read more…]

Top Ten Disney Dining Tips Straight From Disney Fans

By AJ 37 Comments

I put out the call on Twitter and Facebook for everyone’s best Disney Dining advice (because you guys are the experts!!). A lot of the responses could be combined, conveniently, into what I think is one awesome Top Ten list:

TOP TEN: DINING TIPS FROM THE DISNEY EXPERTS

1. Make Reservations
This piece of advice was mentioned dozens of times: Make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) no matter what…and make them early! We suggest you plan ahead and make dining reservations for your high priority meals 180 days ahead of your visit to Disney World and 60 days ahead of your visit to Disneyland. (To us, they’re all high priority, so we just make all of our reservations as soon as we can.)

Click here to subscribe

For those wondering if going to the parks during a traditionally slow season negates the need for ADRs, it doesn’t. The popular restaurants are always popular, and Disney’s “slow seasons” are getting shorter and shorter. Making reservations usually costs nothing, and can save you lots of time during your trip. Here’s a primer on how to make reservations for Disney Restaurants.

Of course, if you’re dead set against making advanced reservations, here are a few of our suggested restaurants you can still get into without an ADR.

Fluffy Omelet Brunch at Be Our Guest

2. Do Your Research
Lots of folks suggested that an important part of planning your Disney dining is doing research about the restaurants and dining options available. I couldn’t agree more. Check out restaurant reviews, learn from other Disney fans how they handled Dining planning for their vacations, read trip reports, and sift through the posts here on the Disney Food Blog. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be to create a seamless Dining strategy that will be enjoyable for your whole family.

One great tip: take stock of the types of eaters you’re bringing with you; make sure you know if you need to plan for fussy eaters, specific eating schedules, food allergies or intolerance, or just plan likes and dislikes, then translate that into your research.

We have plenty of dining reviews right here on the Disney Food Blog, of course, but we also have some great reference information on choosing restaurants when you have special diets to consider. Check out our Disney Dining Reference Page or the “food allergies” section below for more.

3. Coordinate Dining with Park Hours, Early Theme Park Entry, and Extended Theme Park Hours
This is another research tip, and a great way to make your time at the Disney theme parks go much more smoothly. Disney World posts their park hours on their website six months in advance, and Disneyland posts park hours in advance as well. [Read more…]

Epcot Dining Extended One Hour For Limited Time

By AJ 6 Comments

Headed to Disney World March 28th-April 10th and still haven’t gotten your Le Cellier reservation? You’ve just won the lottery today!!

Disney Parks Blog has announced it’s testing the idea of an extra hour of dining for three Epcot restaurants for a limited time:

Give it a try from March 28 through April 10, and let us know what you think — you can book your “extra hour” table at Coral Reef Restaurant, Garden Grill or Le Cellier.

Are you interested in taking advantage of this latest test? Let us know where you’re booking, and send a review when you get home! Can’t wait to hear the stories! Fingers crossed this becomes “Disney law!”

For more breaking news, visit our Disney Food News bulletin list.

News: Italy Pizzeria, Cantina de San Angel Updates, & More

By AJ 9 Comments

Just wanted to share some news I heard recently from fellow blogger, Theme Park Mom. This is third-party info from someone “close to the source,” but I think it’s pretty exciting!

Cantina de San Angel Info
Mexico’s Cantina de San Angel, currently under demo and expansion in Epcot’s World Showcase, will re-emerge as a counter-service and table-service restaurant. But a bit of info that I didn’t know about is that the restaurant will be counter-service for lunch and half table-service, half counter-service, for dinner. (This will be helpful for those of you who, like me, are making up your Disney dining spreadsheets for your Food & Wine Festival trips!)

News on the Mysterious Imported Water
Also, word is that that mysterious “imported water” that will be used in the new Italy Pizzeria in Epcot will be trucked in from a location in the midwest where chemical analysis on the water has shown it to be extremely similar to the H2O found in Naples, Italy. I wonder where…

Diamond Horseshoe in WDW Open Temporarily
In Magic Kingdom food news, the Diamond Horseshoe will be open 3/27/10-4/7/10 from 5:00-9:00PM daily for an all-you-can-eat meal, including family-style platters of Saloon Salad (tossed mixed greens with strawberry vinaigrette dressing) and fare from the Ranchhand’s Feast (roasted turkey breast, carved beef and smoked pork loin with sides of seasonal vegetables, herb bread stuffing and macaroni and cheese). Sound familiar? Yep, this is basically an extension of Liberty Tree Tavern while the parks are mobbed for Spring Break. 🙂

Merchandise Coupons Available
Finally, through April 17th, 2010, when you dine at WDW quick service locations you’ll receive a coupon for 20% off merchandise at participating WDW locations*. (You must use your coupon between 9:00 AM to 12 PM to receive the discount.)

Participating locations:
* The Emporium or Mickey’s Star Traders at Magic Kingdom
* Mouse Gear at Epcot
* Mickey’s of Hollywood and Keystone Clothiers at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
* Island Mercantile at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
* World of Disney Store at Downtown Disney

Hat tip to WDWInfo.

Tony’s Town Square & the “Boo to You” Parade

By AJ 14 Comments

I’m so excited to talk about this experience. While Tony’s Town Square Restaurant‘s Italian fare is far from 5-star cuisine, the memories you can make there — if you’re savvy and just a little bit lucky — are second to none.

Atmosphere
The restaurant is located in the Exposition Hall right next to Disney World’s Train Station. You’ll remember from Disney’s Lady and the Tramp the restaurant upon which Tony’s is styled — in the alley behind it was where Lady and the Tramp shared their famous spaghetti dinner! And you’ll find several Lady and the Tramp references throughout the restaurant. (Check out this post from SamLand’s Disney Adventures for one very special tie-in!)

Lady and the Tramp Appear on Windows...

...And in Statues

They Even Appear on TV in the Lobby

The restaurant includes a plush lobby and three main dining areas: an indoor room with booths and tables, a “sunroom” that floods with light during the day, and [Read more…]

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